Why have a simple court divorce when you can mark the (happy?) occasion with a smash-the-ring party? Our friends over at Lemondrop clued us into this major movement. Formerly married couples host a get-together where the main event is them taking a swing at their wedding rings with a hammer with a cheery frog head on it. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, toads are a symbol of change to the Japanese.

Not strange enough for you? How about this: Remember the cinematic flop The Wedding Date starring (Brandeis alum! Woohoo!) Debra Messing? Well, if you were one of the 40 people who saw it (I was! I thought it was kinda cute!), you know that the plot revolves around a single sister-of-the-bride hiring a guy to play the role of boyfriend at the wedding. I'm not sure if art imitated life or the other way around, but a Japanese service allows you to "rent" friends for your wedding, as if you need help meeting your caterer's minimum guest amount. The Guardian tells the story of a guy who was paid to be one couple's best man!

Like Jem, aren't these truly outrageous? (My born-in-the-early 80s counterparts should get that reference!) If, sadly, you were to get divorced, would you celebrate with friends and family? And is there any wedding situation that calls for using the rent-a-friend service?